Display device



c. J. SIPIOR DISPLAY DEVICE June 20, 1939.

Filed Sept. 15, 193'! Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE5 Claims.

My invention relates in general to display devices, and specifically toa device for holding and displaying a portrait or other transparentpicture, particularly for use in an automobile.

The principal object of my invention has been to provide means forconvenient display of a pertrait or picture on the instrument dash orpanel of an automobile, either by day or by night.

Another object has been to provide a device of this nature whereby theilluminating means thereof may be replaced without disturbing thephotograph, or the photograph may be removed and replaced withoutdisturbing the illuminating means.

Another object has been to provide a device which may be easilyassembled upon the dash of an automobile and one which shall beinexpensive to manufacture.

The above objects and advantages have been accomplished by the deviceshown in the accompanying drawing, of which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, sectional elevation of my device.

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of my device with the illuminating meansomitted, and showing the aperture for holding the same.

My device comprises a body 8 which is tubular in form and whichcomprises the illuminating chamber of the device. The body is'exteriorly screwthreaded at both ends.

On the forward end of the body is an adaptor l which is of T-shapedcross-section. The body part of this adaptor is provided with interiorscrewthreads which engage with the exterior screwthreads on the forwardend of the body 8. In the drawing, 4 and 5 represent, respectively, thefront and back faces of the automobile instrument dash or panel, throughwhich the body part of the adaptor l is passed, an aperture of suitablesize being provided in the panel to accommodate such adaptor body. Theoutwardly extending flange of the adaptor engages with the outer surface4 of the instrument dash or panel, thereby retaining the adaptor inposition. The inner flange of the adaptor extends inwardly and forms arecess for the reception of the two glass windows 3 of the device, oneof which bears against this flange of the adaptor and the other of whichbears against the forward end of the body, whereby when the body 8 isscrewed within the body part of the adaptor the windows 3 will be firmlyheld in place. I place the picture or portrait to be exhibited by thedevice between the two glass windows 3. This arrangement not only servesto hold the picture in place in perfectly flat manner, but also protectsit from the inside and outside from the Weather, from me-' chanicalinjury, and from the accumulation of dust and dirt.

Mounted also upon the forward end of the body 8isan annularlock ring 9having apertures ID for engagement with a suitable wrench (not shown),whereby the ring may be tightened in place. A sleeve 6 is arrangedimmediately back of the instrument dash or panel and has one faceengaged with the rear face 5 of such panel. The sleeve is mounted uponthe body part of the adaptor I, and extends rearwardly a slight distancebeyond the rear end of the body part of such adaptor. Interposed betweenthe sleeve and the lock ring 9 is a washer 1. By tightening up the lockring 9, the outwardly extending flange of the adaptor is drawn tightlyagainst the outer surface 4 of the panel and the whole device issecurely fastened in place. The sleeve 6 is preferably made of suitableresilient material, such as rubber, so that the device will be held inplace in firm but resilient manner, the washer 'l acting as a bearingsurface for the lock ring 9.

The body 8 is preferably formed with a number of apertures H, whereby asuitable ventilation is provided for the illuminating chamber formed bythe body.

Arranged at the rear of the body 8 is a closure flange l5 which isinteriorly sorewthreaded and adapted to be engaged with the screwthreadsat the rear of the body. At the center of the disc part of this flangethere is provided an opening 25 through which the light socket l4 of mydevice is passed. This socket, which is of the standard bayonet type, issecured in place within the opening in well known manner. Furtherdetails of this socket are omitted since it does not form part of myinvention. An electric light bulb l2 of suitable candle power, having abase I3, is placed within the light chamber and held in position withinthe bayonet socket I4. A lead 20 having a terminal 23 fastened inposition by means of a clip 24 is suitably connected to the socket I4and provides means for attaching the device to a source of electriccurrent. Obviously, the other side of the electric current line isgrounded through the socket and through the body 8 and adaptor l,whereby the electric circuit through the lamp will be completed.

The glass windows 3 are, of course, made of clear glass so that theportrait or picture displayed by my device can be readily seen bydaylight without the use of illumination. At night the source ofillumination is from the electric light bulb I2 in the illuminatingchamber of the body 8, which causes the picture to become visiblebecause of its transparency.

While I have shown and described my invention as applied to and carriedby the instrument dash or panel of an automobile, it is obvious that itmay be used in other plates upon or within an automobile or used to holdpictures, portraits, or other display matter carried by objects otherthan automobiles.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with the instrument panel of an automobile, of adisplay device, comprising a tubular body, an adaptor having a body forpassage through an aperture in the instrument panel and forscrewthreaded engagement with the tubular body, said adaptor having an.outwardly extending flange for engagement with the outer surface of thepanel and having an inwardly extending flange forming a recess, twowindow glasses mounted behind the inwardly extending flange and betweenthe forward end of the tubular body for retaining the picture in placetherebetween, and means for securing the device in place.

2. The combination with the instrument panel of an automobile, of adisplay device, comprising a tubular body, an adaptor having a body forpassage through an aperture in the instrument panel and forscrewthreaded engagement with the tubular body, said adaptor having anoutwardly extending flange for engagement-with the outer surface of'thepanel and having an inwardly extending flange forming a recess, twowindow glasses mounted behind the inwardly extending flange and betweenthe forward end of the tubular body for retaining the picture in placetherebetween, an annular lock ring mounted upon the body-and meanslocated between the panel and 1001; ring for drawing the adaptor tightlyagainst the outer surface of the panel.

' 3'. The combinationw-ith the instrument panel of an automobile, of adisplay device, comprising a tubular body, an adaptor having a body forpassage through an aperture in the instrument panel and forscrewthreaded engagement with the tubular body, said adaptor having anoutwardly extending flange for engagement with the outer surface of thepanel and having an inwardly extending flange forming a recess, twowindow glasses mounted behind the inwardly extending flange and betweenthe forward end of the tubular body for retaining the picture in placetherebetween, an annular lock ring mounted upon the body, and resilientmeans located between the panel and lock ring for drawing the adaptortightly against the outer surface of the panel.

4. The combination with the instrument panel of an automobile, of adisplay device, comprising a tubular body, an adaptor having a body forpassage through an aperture in the instrument panel and forscrewthreaded engagement with the tubular body, said adaptor having anoutwardly extending flange for engagement with the outer surface of thepanel and having an inwardly extending flange forming a recess, twowindow glasses mounted behind the inwardly extending flange and betweenthe forward end of the tubular body for retaining the picture in placetherebetween, an annular lock ring mounted upon the body, a sleevemounted about the adaptor flange and located behind the panel, and anannular washer located between the sleeve and the lock ring, and'meanslocated between the panel and lock ring for drawing the adaptor tightlyagainst the outer surface of the panel.

The combination with the instrument panel of an automobile, of'a displaydevice, comprising a tubular body, an adaptor having a body for passagethrough an aperture in the instrument panel and for screwthreadedengagement with the tubular body, said adaptor having an outextendingflange and between the forward end of 5 the, tubular body for retainingthe picture in place therebe'tween, an annular lock ring mounted uponthe body, a closure flange screwthreaded to the read end of, the body,an electric light.

socket carried .by the closure flange, and means CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION. u I Patent No. 2,16 29. June 20, 19 9.

CASIMIR J. SIPIOR. I

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring eorrection as follows: Page 2,first coluxpn, line 8, for the word "plates" read places; and that thesaid Letters Patent shouldbe read with this correction therein that thesame may conform to the record Qr'the case in the Patent Office. Signedand sealed this 1st day of August, A. D. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting-Qonnnissioner of Patents.

